But rumours of big clubs in his native Italy being interested in his signature persist, and Alan Pardew wants to 'take their eyes out'.
No way is Santon a £10m player!
We wouldn't get £2m for him from an English side, but his reputation in Italy is still intact.
The Sunday Express report that the one link that won’t go away is Roma with boss Rudi Garcia said to be "impressed by Santon’s versatility, intrigued by his ability to play on either flank".
AC Milan are also said to be monitoring the situation regarding the former Inter youngster.
He was dropped and replaced by Paul Dummett - doesn't that say it all?
Newcastle United's last fixture ...
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE 1
LIVERPOOL
22. Simon Mignolet
2. Glen Johnson
37. Martin Skrtel
5. Daniel Agger
38. Jon Flanagan 45'
8. Steven Gerrard
14. Jordan Henderson
24. Joe Allen 59'
31. Raheem Sterling
15. Daniel Sturridge 80'
7. Luis Suarez
Subs
1. Brad Jones
4. Kolo Toure
9. Iago Aspas
10. Philippe Coutinho 59'
17. Mamadou Sakho
20. Aly Cissokho 45'
21. Lucas 80'
NEWCASTLE
1. Tim Krul
26. Mathieu Debuchy
27. Steven Taylor 73'
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini
19. Massadio Haidara
7. Moussa Sissoko
8. Vurnon Anita
24. Cheick Tiote 82'
11. Yoan Gouffran 78'
23. Shola Ameobi
Subs
3. Davide Santon
13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
18. Luuk de Jong 73'
21. Rob Elliot
28. Sammy Ameobi 78'
36. Paul Dummett 82'
37. Lubomir Satka
Liverpool rounded off their season with a 2-1 victory over nine-man Newcastle, but it was not enough to end the Anfield side's 24-year wait for the title.
Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge scored within two minutes of each other to give Liverpool victory against the Magpies, who had gone ahead through Martin Skrtel's fourth own goal of the season.
But the celebrations at Anfield were kept to a minimum as Manchester City beat West Ham 2-0 to win the Barclays Premier League.
In the first half Liverpool were well below their best. Newcastle, who had Paul Dummett and Shola Ameobi dismissed, could have been 3-0 up at the break.
But after the restart, Liverpool displayed glimpses of the kind of swashbuckling play that Reds fans and neutrals alike have enjoyed all year.
The Liverpool fans hailed Rodgers at the final whistle, and they had every reason to.
After all he is responsible for taking the club from seventh to second within a year.
He is the man who has turned Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Sturridge from average players with potential to top-class performers and he has managed to get the best out of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.
But a little part of the Liverpool manager must have been thinking 'What if' as he stood on the touchline at the final whistle.
What if Steven Gerrard had not slipped here two weeks ago, handing Chelsea their crucial win at Anfield? What if his team had not conceded three goals in nine minutes at Crystal Palace last week?
Liverpool have taken huge strides under Rodgers - this is only their second top-two finish in 11 years, and there will be Champions League football at Anfield next season.
But Liverpool were five points clear with three games left, and that will statistic will stick in Rodgers' mind for quite some time.
Gerrard tried to grab the game by the scruff of the neck after the first whistle. The rest of his team-mates froze though, seemingly hit by the pressure of knowing this could be the day they won their first title since 1990.
Liverpool could not string five passes together, their tempo was slow and their movement poor.
Newcastle made it clear they were here to spoil the party. Moussa Sissoko found Ameobi in the box after seven minutes, but the striker made a real hash of his header.
Rodgers was up in arms moments later when Sterling went down under pressure from Mathieu Debuchy, but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.
The Liverpool manager wheeled away in celebration three minutes later when Suarez lobbed Tim Krul from the right touchline, but Dowd ruled the Uruguayan had taken the quick free-kick when the ball was still rolling.
Liverpool's growing confidence was punctured by Skrtel. The Slovakian stuck out his right leg trying to prevent Yoan Gouffran's cross finding Ameobi. The ball flew off Skrtel's right shin and beyond Simon Mignolet. He could not have finished it better if he had tried.
Suarez, Gerrard and Sterling all failed with simple passes and the pessimism inside Anfield grew.
The ambience inside Liverpool would have been far worse had Mignolet not saved expertly from Gouffran, who was one-on-one with the Liverpool stopper.
The news of City's 39th minute opener filtered through to the home supporters - some of whom had radios pressed to their ears.
Sturridge headed well wide from five yards to deepen their misery.
Rodgers brought Aly Cissokho on for Jon Flanagan at half-time and Liverpool improved, with Sterling testing Krul with a low drive.
But with City now 2-0 up, it no longer mattered what happened at Anfield.
That did not stop Liverpool fighting, though. Agger gained half a yard on Debuchy and diverted the ball past Krul from Gerrard's free-kick to equalise.
Anfield finally came to life as the home support urged their team to find a second.
Less than two minutes after Agger's goal, Sturridge made it 2-1 from almost exactly the same position as the centre-back.
Cheick Tiote fouled substitute Philippe Coutinho 25 yards out. Gerrard whipped the ball to the back post again and Sturridge tapped his 21st Premier League goal of the season in from two yards.
Ameobi did his team no favours by getting sent off straight after the goal when he argued with Dowd in the centre circle as he was about to restart the game. The referee showed Ameobi a yellow card and when the striker continued his protests, he sent him off.
Agger missed an easy header from five yards with 10 minutes left before Dummett saw red three minutes from the end for kicking Suarez.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Skrtel og)
Krul, Debuchy, S Taylor (73' de Jong), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (82' Dummett), Gouffran (78' Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi
Subs: Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Satka
NEWCASTLE 3 CARDIFF CITY 0 (Shola Ameobi, Remy, S Taylor)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett (45' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (79' S Taylor), Gouffran (70' Gosling), Remy, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, de Jong, Elliot, Armstrong
ARSENAL 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (84' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Gosling (69' Shola Ameobi), Gouffran (89' Armstrong), Remy
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 2 (Shola Ameobi)
Krul, Anita, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gosling (81' Armstrong), Tiote, Cisse (21' Debuchy), de Jong (40' Remy), Gouffran, Shola Ameobi
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, S Taylor (61' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Anita, Gosling (73' Gouffran), Tiote, Dummett, Cisse (74' Armstrong), Shola Ameobi
Subs: de Jong, Haidara, Bigirimana, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN UTD 4
Elliot, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Tiote, Gosling, Anita, de Jong (61' Ben Arfa), Gouffran (85' Shola Ameobi), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Dummett, Alnwick, Armstrong
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa (45' Santon), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (45' de Jong), Sissoko (78' Dummett), Gouffran, Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 3
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (75' Marveaux), Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (90+1' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (58' Ben Arfa), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 (Cisse)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko (88' Marveaux), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (76' Shola Ameobi), de Jong (59' Ben Arfa), Cisse.
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita (81' Marveaux), Gouffran, de Jong (86' Armstrong), Cisse (71' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Gosling, Haidara, S Taylor, Alnwick
HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Sissoko, Tiote, Anita, Gouffran, de Jong (90' Gosling), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor, Alnwick
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa), Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
FA CUP
NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick